Thompson PAC Benefits Son More Than Republicans

Wall Street Journal ^ | 21 April 2007 | BRODY MULLINS

[shrinkermd]

According to the WSJ not much left in the account. Most likely his potential candidacy might remedy that or perhaps he will establish a new PAC.

Apprently, according to the WSJ, it is common to have a PAC after leaving office; however, this seems self-serving and not an easy thing to justify.

[RatsDawg]

Ping!

[Reagan Man]

>>>>> ..... this seems self-serving and not an easy thing to justify.

Come on. Nothing wrong with FredT keeping the books on his PAC open for some possible future use. After all, his working career was as a lawyer, actor and politician. Nothing illegal about it.

[oceanview]

there is nothing here, the $$$ amounts here are tiny.

[kittymyrib]

So what? There is nothing illegal or unusual in using PAC monies in this way. Until the laws change, it’s “free” money to the candidates who gathered it.

[Prokopton]

there is nothing here, the $$$ amounts here are tiny.

About $49,000 a year. You don't get a lot for this.

[Politicalmom]

Yet they focus on Fred, when the Hildebeast has just about the same ratio, just larger amounts.

Another demonstration of how they FEAR THE FRED.

[Rudder]

...$244,000 in "management/consulting fees" to his son's consulting firm...

If he's not involved in politics, there's no need for the funds. If it's for future use, it should have been saved for future use in politics and not given to his son. It may not be illegal, but it should be. It does give a strong appearance of impropriety.

[no dems]

this seems self-serving and not an easy thing to justify.

I think you're missing the point. It's not a question of "illegality". The problem is the amount paid to his son's consulting firm was more than he gave to GOP candidates.

Now, I'm an FDT supporter and have been waiting for his announcement with great anticipation. I hate to see stuff like this starting to surface so soon. This is the kind of crap that Mr. and Mrs. America detest in politicians.

[FairOpinion]

Fred Thompson's PAC's political contributions, as per Open Secrets

I don't vouch for the accuracy, but I understand the contributions are public record and this is where Open Secrets collects the info.

Fred D Thompson PAC
PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates
2006 Cycle

House Candidate Total Contribs:

Dewine, R Pat (R-OH) $4,200
Wolf, Frank R (R-VA) $1,000

Senate Candidate Total Contribs

Allen, George (R-VA) $1,000
Bryant, Ed (R-TN) $1,000
Clinton, Hillary (D-NY) $1,000
Corker, Bob (R-TN) $6,000
DeWine, Mike (R-OH) $2,000
Graham, Lindsey (R-SC) $2,000
Lieberman, Joe (I-CT) $2,000
Steele, Michael (R-MD) $1,000

~~~~~

Can someone research and confirm or refute this?

[MonTinaGirl]

Uh oh. Could there be an explanation?

[FairOpinion]

“Based on data released by the FEC on Monday, February 19, 2007. Figures in parentheses denote negative numbers, and may indicate returned contributions or bounced checks. “

Full list of expenditures:

http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/expend.asp?strID=C00325498&Cycle=2006

“Hilleary for Senate, Nashville, TN $1,000 7/25/2006”

Do you suppose there was a “Hilleary” running for Senate, who is not identical to Hillary?

But in the summary of contributions to Federal candidates it’s made clear that the donation was to Hillary Clinton.

[EDINVA]

his son’s company better have some damned good records of how that money was spent ... this is a hard pig to put lipstick on.

[MonTinaGirl]

There was someone named “Van Hilleary” or something like that.

[Doug Loss]

Now that you mention it, Van Hilleary did run for the Tennessee Senate seat in 2006. I’m not saying that’s what this contribution was about, but it seems reasonable.

[SE Mom]

Ok- let’s nip THIS sucker in the BUD:
http://www.issues2000.org/Senate/Van_Hilleary.htm

Van Hilleary, state Senate TENNESSEE.

Whoever is doing the fair reporting is going to hear from at least one pissed off Republican

[Howlin]

Apprently, according to the WSJ, it is common to have a PAC after leaving office; however, this seems self-serving and not an easy thing to justify.

Let me fix that for you:

Apprently, according to the WSJ, it is common to have a PAC after leaving office; however, this seems self-serving and not an easy thing to justify, rather than wait and find out the facts, I'll just use this to attack Thompson while I can, showing my own laziness and ignornace.

There; that's much better.

[FairOpinion]

Open Secrets gives a link to the actual documents filed.

http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.asp?strid=C00325498&cycle=2006

Official PAC Name:
THE FRED D. THOMPSON PAC
Location: NASHVILLE TN, 37215
Industry: Leadership PACs; Republican officials, candidates & former members
Treasurer: SUZIE BROWNING Treasurer
FEC Committee ID: C00325498
(Look up actual documents filed at the FEC)

The link to “actual documents filed at the FEC”

takes you to:

http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?C00325498

Presented by the Federal Election Commission
TRY A: NEW SEARCH RETURN TO: FEC HOME PAGE

Committee ID: C00325498

THE FRED D. THOMPSON PAC

2400 CRESTMOOR ROAD SUITE 319
NASHVILLE, TN 37215